Tidings for Tuesday
Ye call Me Master and Lord, and ye say well, for so I am. John 13:13
We don’t know what the term ‘lord’ means these days, not like the people in ancient and medieval days. For example, in the feudal system that held much of Europe in the middle ages, the peasants would take the vow of a vassal and become subservient to the lord who owned all of the land. In return for their total and life-long faithfulness and obedience, the vassals would be allowed to live on and work their little farms. The lord could call on them for whatever purpose he needed, including taking up arms and going to war. Although a vassal could function with some level of independence on his farm, all of his priorities came second to those of the lord. Although we know nothing about such arrangements today, this was a very real and powerful relationship in those days. Although not a slave, the vassal was not far from it. Whatever his lord asked, he was expected to do without question. Disobedience was met with whatever punishment the lord deemed appropriate, including death. In this context, we hear again the words of the Lord Jesus, that we call Him Master and Lord, for so He is.
When did we take the vow of a vassal to the Lord Jesus? At our conversion! Romans 10:9 tells us that our salvation is based on our acknowledging Him as Lord and believing in His finished work on the cross. As we conduct our little lives working our little jobs, providing for our little families, tending to our own little affairs, we acknowledge – or at least we should – that everything we do is subject to the Lord’s approval and does not conflict with His interests. And we should not marvel when we are punished for disobedience.
As vassals, we have no option of abandoning our commitment to the Lord, just as our Lord has no option of abandoning or forsaking us. The commitment goes both ways, and we know that He will uphold His promise. Have we upheld our vow? Are there any conflicts between our goals and desires and those of our Lord? Are there any instances when our commitment calls for us to be in His service but we ignore or reject the call? If He is indeed our Lord, we must obey. If He calls us to worship, we cannot be found in leisure or pleasure’s court. If He calls us to witness and to serve others, we cannot pretend we don’t hear. If He calls us to tend to His business, we cannot be found tending to our own.
Yes, He is the Lord. But are we faithful vassals? – Jim MacIntosh